Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1887-08-31
TIs r.oBIKx or ras woK.n
DurstSsa ~ Lih Upon TIE Earth-Hew
WIN Euture Reservations 1--we?

-
Durasssa - LiA Upon Tie Earth-Hew
WIN 1sture O-eusrations 1--we?
IBsltimore Amsricaal
Attention has Of late been given by
political economist and others TO the
solution Of the problem of duration Of
lie upon the earth. While there il
little danger Of the present generation
being crowded from the earth's surface,
yet 10 read the various theories and
solutions Of the problem ~ they are I'D
vanced must prove Of more than mere
passing interest.
While the area OF habitable land re-
mains the same, for there are no more
new worlds" to be discovered, the
population of the globe is rapidly in
creasing. From the year 1870 to the
year 1880 the increase ON the continent
OF Europe was 81 per cent /; in Great
Britain, 1O4 per can't in Australia,
56a per cent ; and in South Africa, 73f
per cent. The population of the United
States has increased from about 4,OOO,-
GOO in 1890 to about GO, 600, 600 in 1887,
doubling every twenty-five years; while
that of the entire globe has increased
from about 1891, 00O, 900 ia 1871 to
about 1000, O0O, 600 in 1887. The United
State exclusive Of Alaska, sustains q
population of 16 to the square mile;
France, 1871; Germany, ZIG; China, $50;
Italy, $50: Gava, 39S; Great Britain,
400, and Belgium nearly 500. 1t has
been estimated that by the year 1890
the population of the United States will
bo al dense a. that of China to-day, by
the year 204O, q little more than q CEN
tury and q half, Mt the same rate of in
crease, it will contain $50 Inhabitants to
the square mile, and twenty-five years
later, 1,762 to the square mile. At the
present rapid rate of growth, therefore,
the new world" long before the year
2O4O will be as densely populated as is
now the "old world" A hundred years
later, other portions of the earth will
also be full. Nautilus, in his celebrated
work on Population" shows that,
while the inhabitants of the globe are
increasing in geometric ratio, sub
sistence is increasing in arithmetical
ratio, and that unless this condition OF
things in some way be changed the
earth will soon be unable to support its
teeming millions.
The is the problem. What measures
are proposed in order to avert the
threatening calamity?
One declares that ut may we'll be
questioned whether the labors of the
humanitarian, or the fruits OF science
and invention, have been for the real
benefit Of the race" Another considers
it "a grave error to endeavor to avert
war among European nations, and seek
to have standing armies disbanded."
Another is confident "that the discov-
cries and devises of the past fifty years,
which have heightened the life period,
have been curses instead of blessings to
those they were designed to benefit"
Nautilus proposes, as Q preventive,
the increase Of the quantity OF. pro-
visions by bringing all the useful lands
of earth to the highest degree Of cultiva-
tioA. and, at the same time, retard the
rapid increase OF population by educa-
ton, which tends to lessen fecundity.
Mr.. Harrington, to whom we are in
debted for some facts and figures, in o
carefully prepared article attempts to
refute the whole theory of Nautilus,
sees little for alarm, and declares
that "the food and raiment consumed
by what is theoretically called the
lower classes of the people we're greater
in quantity and better in quality forty
years ago than in any previous period
of the worlds history. They are greater
and better to-day than they were then.
In every civilized nation under the sun
the pressure upon subsistence decreases
as population increases"
Wayland sees no need of any other
means to prevent the too rapid increase
of population than to secure q cor
respondent increase Of capital by which
the population may be supported. This
increase Of capital is to be obtained by
individual industry and frugality and
national economy. Let nations cult
vate the art of peace" he says. "Let
them reduce the unnecessary expenses
OF governments; let them abolish those
restrictions which fetter and dispirit in
dustry by diminishing the inducements
to labor !; let them foster the means by
which the productiveness of labor may
be increased, and the annul gifts of the
Creator will so accumulate that the
means will be provided for the support
of all the human beings which are an
nually brought into the world. As
soo a. this accumulation bears q suita-
BILE ratio to the number of inhabitants,
We shall hear no more of the evils of
excess of population. 1t il vain to
throw away the food of 1000, 600 of
people in a single day, and then be as
tonished that 1000, 600 of people are
starving for the want of it. Hence, we
learn the economical evils Of every
form of vice; as, for instance, of in
temperance. The money spent in in
temperance is SO much, absolute waste
Of capital. This is, of itself, in most
civilized countries, enormous" The
true solution OF this problem is to be
found in individual practice of industry.
frugality. temperance, chastity, and
righteousness. In the cultivation of
these virtues, too, is to be found the
remedy, the only remedy, for the cry
ing evils OF this age in which we live.
Something About Corkscrews.
There seems to be nothing to say
about q corkscrew. The corkscrew is
ubiquitous and necessitous, but who